I recently Judged my breed at an open show which drew quite a large entry  afterwards I looked back over the years and some of the shows I had been invited to judge every one in the past was well here goes:
Normally When arriving at the venue introduce myself at the show secs table different societies were different but most welcomed me with a cheery hello,then usually taken to a seperate area where tea and coffee were offered and a chat to fellow judges till called to the rings,ofen a Steward would come for us or we wuld make our way to the ring.
Then the Steward would announce the Judge and then start the Judging then usually after it would be BOB round the ring Appreciation for Judge etc.. and almost always a lunch ticket available or at least offer of one,having said that I dont normally take lunch after Judging. but its nice to be asked.
This  last time I arrived at the show went to sec handed my envelope  was offered tea or coffee from a flask I said it was ok as I was going to the cafe for a drink there was nowhere private to sit and its a bit off putting watching all your exhibitors arriving.
No one called so I went to the ring and met the steward he then shouted   puppy class in the ring please no introduction,The rosette for best puppy was abysmal it looked like it had been dropped and trod on the BOB rosette wasnt much better! then after  judging he went out of the ring I got my coat a bit of a chat to exhibitors and that was it.
It just made me wonder that nowadays judges are made to feel they are being done a favour by giving a judging appointment
and not that maybe your appointment would atract a good entry and be good for the society
Also I know above all that halls etc are expensive but showing nowadays doesnt seem the same as it used to,I remember a time when I showed a lot I would take a packed lunch and stay all day,now nearly  everyone rushes off  after their classes even after a class,if thats the case how do they learn?
I remember shows being a real pleasure to go to now I feel some  show sociaties need to get their act together or entries will drop so much that Open shows will be a thing of the past and that will be a terrible thing.
My very nicest appointment was a breed club show where we were welcomed looked after and had a brilliant day even got a set of engraved glasses to mark the event.
What do others think?

Must admit that at general Open shows other than an anouncement that judging will commence there has never been any introductions or Ceremony about it sicne I started showing in 1989.

Sometimes they don't even tell you that there ahs been a change of judge, and you think you have shown under one person when in fact it was another!

when you think that its the exhibitors who support the shows its a bit naughty dont you think?

Yes I do.  I enjoy the Open shows where |I can enter several classes under different judges.

This weekend I showed under 4 different judges.  I took 3 dogs and they were each entered in a breed class and two other variety classes each.

It did cost me £17.50 to enter, but as I won two stakes classes and placed thrid in another I actually won enough back £11 to cover my half of the petrol!

I remember when it was quite common to offer prize money in classes  at canine sociaties and breed shows it was never much but as you say it went towards the expences
Its an expensive game showing dogs especially at champ show level I wonder what the cost works out at now its years since I campained a puppy,I am hoping soon though to have a new baby to show I have not had the best of luck over the last years I lost a promising  Girl to Pyometra and another one i have is gorgeous but had the Pannoititas (spell) so cant be shown so this new baby might get me back in the ring Fingers crossed

Well the boy we own jointly we keep track of expendidture as we all share the costs.

Since his release from Quarantine in July 2001 he has cost us in entry fees, food and Insurance, with the odd advert in club yearbooks or dog papers (only little ones in the latter) £3600+.  Now that doesn't take into account Petr4ol to get to shows.  Now until he was made up lat year he did go to msot of the 18 CC shows we have,a dn enough Open Shows to get his Uunior Warrant and ShCM.  But last year he hardly did any Open shows, and now he is a Champion just goes to the ones his owner.handler wants to attend especially.

So you could safely say £1000 a year plus petrol and equipment.

My young boy had Panosteitis - it took 6 long months of rest and controlled excercise but he is totally sound now - trouble is I have start all over again with his ringcraft training etc. Don't give up on your youngster - they CAN come right. I do think this condition is on the increase - perhaps linked into the type of food our dogs now have ?

Yvonne